Graham Watson to Visit EU Funded Projects Across Bristol

4.00.00pm GMT Fri 16th Jan 2009

On Monday, 18 Jan 2009, Graham Watson will be visiting projects around Bristol to see the effect European Funding has had on the City. He will also be accompanied by the second Liberal Democrat candidate for the upcoming European elections and previous Bristol South PPC, Kay Barnard. He will visit four projects in the morning and early afternoon, The Withywood Centre, Knowle West Media Centre, The City Academy and Childrens Scrapstore, in that order (times and addresses in editor's note).

Commenting on the visit Graham said

"I look forward to seeing solid, brick and mortar, examples of EU funding across Bristol. Visiting and learning about these projects will give me ammunition to go back to the European Parliament and continue fight for this funding to be continued and extended."

Editors note:-

The Withywood Centre was finished in 2007. It involved local young people in its design and created 30 jobs in its construction. It is a centre with community and neighbourhood resources, including a crèche, church, café, child care during school holidays, advice centre and much more. Graham and Kay are going to see these facilities and the benefit they bring to the community.

They are then moving onto Knowle West Media Centre which was opened with the aim of getting people involved in multi-media activities such as photography, video and the internet. It delivers projects that directly involve the local community in regeneration of the area, teaching new skills and creatively exploring ways in which media work can benefit and enhance the local community. Graham and Kay are going to see the effects of this project in regenerating the local area and helping local people.

The third visit will be to The City Academy. The Academy aims to improve the skills and employability of local people through a wide range of training opportunities. One of the EU funded projects ran at the academy is the "Full House Project", which Graham attended the opening of in late October. Graham and Kay are looking forward to hearing about the development of the "Full House Project" as well as various other projects ran by the Academy.

Finally Graham and Kay will go to Childrens Scrapstore. This project recycles safe but unwanted materials from local businesses for use in creative play projects for children. European funding supported the Childrens Scrapstore in purchasing and refurbishing a redundant building on Sevier Street in St Werburghs. The project now provides a stable, sustainable workspace and resources for community groups and social economy organisations to expand their capacity and develop new initiatives.

9.00am The Withywood Centre,

Queens Road,

Withywood,

Bristol,

BS13 8QA

http://www.withywoodcentre.com/

10.15am Knowle West Media Centre

Leinster Avenue

Knowle West

Bristol

BS4 1NL

http://www.kwmc.org.uk/

11.30am The City Academy

Russell Town Avenue

Redfield

BS5 9JH

http://www.cityacademybristol.org/

1.00pm Childrens Scrapstore

The Proving House

St Werburghs

BS2 9LB

http://www.childrensscrapstore.co.uk/

Press Welcome to any/all of above.

All these projects were funded by the EU, either through the European Regional Development Fund or Objective 2 funding.

For more information, for example on the visits, funding or projects, please contact us.